The couple were found dead in the Norfolk town of Roughton, near Cromer (above). Photograph: Graham Turner for the Guardian

A Norfolk council leader and his wife have been found shot dead on a housing estate.

Police have identified the pair as the North Norfolk district council leader, Keith Johnson, 58, and his wife, Andrea, 44.

Police were called to Compit Hills estate in Roughton, four miles south of the seaside town of Cromer, at 2.50pm on Sunday after reports of gunshots.

Upon arrival, officers said they discovered the body of a woman, believed to be Andrea Johnson, in the front garden of a property, while the body of man, believed to be Keith Johnson, was found in a rear garden nearby.

The circumstances of the deaths are being investigated jointly by Norfolk and Suffolk major investigation teams.

Johnson, who was elected on 30 May to head the Conservative council, was a former mayor of Cromer and long-serving member of the district and town councils.

Detectives said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Cromer's deputy mayor, David Pritchard, said: "Keith and Andrea were a lovely couple and I was not aware that they were having any problems … Both myself and my wife are in a state of shock.

"Keith was very well thought of in the town. In fact, he was very well known and respected across the whole district. For the last couple of years he was a good friend of mine. We have been out with them to social events many times and I always found him great company."

The chief executive of North Norfolk district council, Sheila Oxtoby, said: "It is with enormous shock and huge sadness that we have learned of the deaths of council leader Keith Johnson and his wife, Andrea.

"Keith was a highly respected and much loved member of North Norfolk district council. He will be greatly missed by the council and his death is a great loss to the whole community.

"Keith and Andrea were well known by many people in the district and our thoughts and prayers go out to both their families and close friends."

The deputy council leader, Tom FitzPatrick, said: "I am sure that everyone in north Norfolk and many much further afield will share the deep sense of loss that I and all my colleagues at the district council feel at this terrible news.

"Keith was a great champion for north Norfolk and a great friend, and he worked tirelessly for the council and for the people who live here. We will all miss him hugely."

The North Norfolk MP, Norman Lamb, said he was deeply shocked by the news.

"I've known Keith for some years through his work on the council and we both attended the wedding of a mutual friend a few years ago," he said. "We've always been on very good terms despite the fact I'm Lib Dem and he was a Conservative.

"I didn't know Andrea beyond seeing them both at civic events but she was always good for a friendly chat. I share the community's sense of disbelief and my heart goes out to all of their family and friends."

Detective Superintendent Peter Hornby, who is leading the investigation, said: "Whilst I understand this is a very shocking incident for the neighbours of the two people involved, I can reassure them that, at this stage, we are not looking for anyone else in connection with it."

In a statement, Norfolk police said post-mortem examinations were under way and formal identification would follow. "However, officers can confirm that both of them are thought to have died from gunshot wounds and we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident."